Paper making machine



Npvg24, 1931.

. E. E. BERRY PAPER MAKING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1929 4 She ecs-Sheet v1 @N K 3 Q N Q.

. 12/42. E any Nov; 24, 1931. E. E; BERRY Q 1, 7

' PAPER MAKING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1929 4 sheets sneet 2 Nov. 24 1931. E. BERRY 1,833,351

PAPER MAKING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 6 m y 64 65 H M Y Z 7 I j 0 M 2 2 Z2 4 ZZVAO I 6 x 0Z3 l H 6 1 ,7? 1/1,, x Z/VL NW. 24, 1931. E. E. BERRY 1,833,351

PAPER-MAKING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I y I I I I I I Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE] EARL E. BERRY, Ol' BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOBTO BELOI'I. IRON WORKS, OF NELOIT, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION 01 WISOONSIN PAPER mxme MACHINE Application filed July 18,

' machine and more particularly to a forming part of a paper machine, wherein a suction device is provided for forming the web of paper-with the aid of suction.

The forming elements of a Fourdrinier paper machine, to which this invention more particularly relates, have persisted for the most part in their original state and in the same relative arrangement without radical change. These formin elements include a breast r011, table rolls, at suction boxes and a couch roll, and a wire trained around the breast and couch rolls to pass over the table rolls and suction boxes. In such an arrangement, the water is drained from the stock on the wire as it passes over the table rolls largely by gravity and further quantities of water are extracted from the partially formed web as the sheet of stock and wire pass over the suction boxes. In the modern high speed paper machine, the forming part of the machine, that is the table structure, must necessarily be of considerable length in order to provide time for the water to be drained and extracted from the stock to form the web. Aside from the great length, and consequent high cost of equipment, including the forming wire,'h0wever, the standard arrangement of table rolls and flat suction boxes is a comparatively ineflicient means for the removal of water.

In the case of the table rolls on high speed paper machines, the rapid rotation of the relatively small diameterrolls causes a considerable proportion of the water that drains upon the surface of the rolls to be thrown back against the under side of the wire with sufiicient force to retardthe draining of the water through the wire and also, 1n some instances, even to disturb the formation. of the web. The flat suction boxes present an even more serious problem in that they have a tendency to cause wear upon the wire and decrease its useful life, as well as being themselves worn and scored bythe passage of the wire over their surfaces.

- It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved forming part for paper machines of the Fourdriniertype 1929. Serial in. 878,886. a

wherein the usual table rolls and fiat suction boxes are entirely eliminated.

- It is a further important object of this invention to provide more efficient means for extracting the water from the stock in the formation of the web so that the forming portion of the paper machine may be considerably shorter and more compact.

It is .a further important object of this invention to provide a' forming portion of a paper machine wherein the stock is subjected to a continuous suction action from the time it is delivered onto the forming wire until the sheet is formed and sufiicient water has been extracted to allow its removal therefrom.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a suction device for cooperation in the formation of a paper web including a traveling perforate cover adapted to travel with and support the forming wire and means for hydraulically balancing'the traveling cover against the pneumatic pressure set up b the suction effect.

Other an further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

This inventlon (in a referred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawin s:

Figure 1 is a ront elevational View of a formlng portion of a aper machine embodying the principles 0% my invention, shown more or less diagrammatically and with moval upon tracks 4 and 5.' The specific structure for the removal of thetable portion 1 need not be described, since. many forms of construction are well known in the art.

A forming wire 6 trained around a breast roll 7 and a couch roll 8 cooperates with a suction device, indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 9, in the forming of the web of paper. The usual wire guide roll 10, tension roll 11 and other idling rollers 12 serve their usual function.

Stock is introduced onto the forming wire 6 (Figures 1 and 4) from'a head box 13 over an apron 14, which is referably provided with relatively high slde boards 15 and hinged as a unit at its upper lateral edges, as at 16, to said head box 13. The apron 14 instead of terminating at the breast roll 7 extends completely over the breast roll to carry the stock onto the wire at a point above the suction device 9. Said apron 14 is further provided with a transverse ridge or dam 76 serving to form a pond of stock 17 that is relatively quiescent and free from eddy currents.

A slice 18 supported at its ends by the side boards 15, is positioned a considerable distance along the wire to cause an extension 17a of the pond 17 over a portion of the forming wire 6 while it is in cooperation with the suction device 9. The body' of stock is thus subject to the suction action of the suction device 9 before it passes out under the slice 18.

Said slice 18 may be either. of the ordinary low type or may be of the high pressure type. Preferably, means are provided, such as the screws or bolts 80 (Figures 1 and 4), for vertical adjustment of the slice throughout its length and other bolts 81 and blocks 82 extending through slots 83 in the apron side boards 15 for adjustment lengthwise of the wire.

A pair of deckle straps 19 mounted upon pulleys 20 and 21 perform the usual function of controlling the width of the sheet on the forming wire 6. The deckle pulleys 20 near the breast roll end of the machine are preferably supported upon the side boards 15 so that they may be elevated together with the apron 14, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, when the table structure is to be laterally removed, as in the changing of a wire. I The other deckle pulleys 21, in such case, may be elevated in any suitable manner and supported in the dotted position shown. In a similar manner, provision is made for elevating the wire rolls 12 into their dotted line position so that the table structure may bedrolled out over the supporting tracks 4 an 5.

The suction device 9, which embodies the principles of this invention, is of a construction similar to that described in my copending application Serial No. 370,500, filed June 13, 1929. Said suction device 9 comprises a stationary box-like hollow member 22 (Fig- .ures 1 and 4),, preferably formed in a plurality of transversely divided sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and '28, each forming a separate suction unit, wherein the degree of suction may be individually controlled and varied to suit the operating conditions. Theistationary suction member 22 is supported from the side beams of brackets 29 and 30, respectively.

Rolls 31 and 32, suitably journalled in bearing supports 33 and 34, respectively, are mounted from the side beams 2 and 3 at the breast roll and couch roll ends of the suction member 22, respectively. An endless perforate cover 35 for the open top of said suction member 22 is trained around said rolls 31 and 32-and is adapted to be driven by the roll 32-to travel with the forming wire 6. For this purpose, the rear end of the roll 32 (Figure 3) is extended through the rear bearing support 34 to provide an extension 36 on which is mounted a cone pulley 37. A second conepullev 38 is mounted upon-the rearwardly extended shaft 39 of the couch roll 8 and a belt 40 trained over the two cone pulleys 37 and 38 for driving the roll 32 from the couch roll 8. Said couch roll 8 may be driven in any standard manner (not shown).

Each of the separate suction units 23 to 28 inclusive, (Figure 2) is connected by means of a-suction pipe 41 to a separator 42 having a lower barometric leg 43 extending into a well 44 for receiving the water extracted from the stock and web on the forming wire 6. At the upper end of each of the separators42 is a valved connection 45 to a 2 and 3 (Figure 2 by means.

header or accumulator 46, from which a pipe 47 leads to a suction fan or blower 48- of any suitable type. The degree of suction in the units 23 to 28 inclusive may thus be controlled individually by the valved connections 45.

In the upper portion of the hollow suction member 22 is mounted a plurality of longitudinally extending troughs 49 (Figures 5 to 7 inclusive). Said troughs 49 are adapted to be filled. with a liquid, suitably water through connections 50 from a plurality of transversely extending pipes 51, each extending through packing glands 56 in the side .68. Transversely extending -ribs 69,

Walls of the member 22 and each connected to a vertical standpipe 52. Each of the standpipes 52 is supplied with water from an inlet valve-control ed pipe 53 and each of said .stand pipes 52 is provided with an overflow pipe 54, whereby sufiicient head is created to cause the water in the troughs 49 to exert an upward balancing pressure against the traveling cover 35, as will be later explained in greater detail.

The troughs 49 (Figures 6 and 7) comprise relatively shallow boxes, preferably of rectangular cross section, length of the suction member 22 and supported therefrom on ribs 57. Each of the troughs 49 is spaced from its next adjacent trough by means of integrally formed webs 58, whereby relatively long, narrow openings 59 are provided between adjacent troughs 49 intermediate their ends. The-top edges 60 of said troughs 49, as well as the top faces of integrally formed transverse webs 61 extending between the side walls of said troughs are machined to provide plane surfaces for supporting the traveling cover 35. The end walls 62 of said troughs 49 are provided with aligned communicating passages 63, opening upwardly as at 64 between adjacent trough ends. Water is supplied to the passages 63 by means of a pipe 65 under just suificient pressure to keep the water seeping out through the openings 64, for a purpose that will later appear.

The traveling cover 35 is formed in a plurality of sections 66. each having .a base portion 67 (Figures -7 to 10) of'slightlv greater width than the troughs 49 for resting on the upper machined edges 60 thereof. The beltlike sections 66 are preferably formed of rubber or other resilient material. the base portion 67 being reinforced with fabric plies p e erably in the form of an isosceles triangle in cross section, extend upwardly from the base portion 67 and are preferably formed integrally therewith. The ribs 69 may suitably have an outer coating or shell of relatively hard rubber or metal 70 vulcanized or otherwise secured thereto to prevent wear, as it is upon these ribs that. the forming wire 6 is supported. The crests of the ribs 69 are provided with minute corrugations 71 upon the tiny crests of which the wire 6 is supported. In this way, there'is little or no tendency for the ribs 69 to close any considerable area of the wire 6 to form areas'of low suction that would result .in faulty formation of the sheet.

Between successive ribs169, the base portion of the belt sections 66 are cut away as at 72 .to'provide openings through which the water extracted from the web on the wire may drain. It will be noted that the width of the belt-like sections 66 is such that the openings 72. he over the longitudinally exextending the full 'tically tending openings 59. between ad'acent troughs 49, so that the water drained cm the sheet is free to pass through the openings 72 and 59 into the various sections of the box like suction member 22. The lateral edges of the belt 66 lie in abutting relation, as at 73, except in the case of the outside belts whose outer edges 74 abut the inside faces of the side rails 55 (Figure 7).

The deckle straps19 overlie the marginal portions of the wire 6 and abut against vertical faces 84, of extension side rails secured to said side rails 55.

A groove 86 is formed along each of said inner faces 84, and to eachof said grooves 86 is connected a water pipe 87 for supplying water tliereto to seal the joints thus formed between the deckle straps, wire and side rails 85.

In operation, stock is allowed to flow from the head box 13 over the apron board 14 and out under the slice 18. The flow of stock under the slice 18 may be under sufficient head to permit the stock to be flowing at substan tially the rate of travel of the wire 6 after it passes out from under the slice 18. Inasmuch as the apron board is of imperforate material and extends out over the breast roll 7 to a point be 0nd the center line of the roll 31, the stock oes not flow onto the forming wire 6 until substantially the point is reached wire over some intermedi- 5 of the wire in front of the slice 18 that is subject to the effect of the suction within the underlying sections, say 23 and 24, of the suction device 9.

Where a low head of stock, sa onl a few inches, is formed in the ponds 1 an 17a in backof the slice 18, practically allof the forming of the sheet the area covered by the pond 17a with pracstock has assed the slice. In this case, the slice wouhlbe adjusted so that its lower edge probably takes place in no formation occurring after the would not be very close to the wire in order a not to disturb the top fibers of the deposited layer of fibers on the wire.

As the open wire 6 comes into contact withthe suction area over the' device 9, the fibers immediately start to deposit on the surface of the wire. The initial layer of fibers formed may be somewhat uneven and spottydue to I as unchedtogether, but these fibers are held onto the the small fibers being more or e wire by the action of the suction and are not moved or disturbed by the friction between the moving wire and its deposit of fibers and the pond of stock. The quiescent. As the wire from one end of thearea covered by the pond 17a to pond is relatively the other end, the open or thinner spots betically complete before the stock has actualthe tendency is for the sheet to be sections 23 to 28 inclusive. tions, the water and tween the bunches of fibers first deposited, by offering less resistance to the further flow of water through the wire, tend to cause such further flow, with the result that a uniform 5 and even sheet of fibers is formed on the wire.

The flow through the wire is always through the points offering the least resistance, even after a substantial deposit of fibers .has occurred. V

Formation of the sheet accordingly is pracly passed under the slice 18 and while there is relatively little forward movement of the stock. Under the action of the suction cre- 15 ated by the vacuum pump 48, water is drawn from the ond above the wire and in the course'of t is draining, the fibers are deposited upon the upper surface of the wire and held there by the suction to build up as just described. The fibers that so settle up bedirection than in the across-the-machine direction.

In order to eliminate any tendency that the fibers may have to assume vertical or upended positions, a device known to the art 5 may be positioned in the pond 17a to keep the fibers in a horizontal position just previous to coming into contact with the wire. Oscillating or revolving agitators placed close together and to the wire and covering the en- 0 tire, suction area occupied by the pond 17 a satisfactorily serve this purpose.

The means including the bolts 81 and blocks 82 for connection with the ends of the slice 18 permit adjustment of the area covered by the pond 17a for producing various kinds of paper. It is, of course, also possible to vary the speed of the machine to suit operating requirements.

From the time the stock first flows onto the wire until the wire passes beyond the couch roll end of the suction device 9, the sto'ck is subjected to a continuous suction effect. The water extracted from the stock and from the web of sheet during its formation is drawn through the wire into the grooves between the ribs 69 and from these grooves drained through the openings 72 and the openings 59 between adjacent troughs 49 From these seethrough the pipes 41'into the separators 42, from which the water passes on down through the barometric legs 43 into the well 44 and the air is drawn through the pipes 45, 46 and 47 into thevacuum pump 48. The water my invention,

into the various.

entrained air are drawn from the well 44, which is bound to contain some fibrous material and fillers, may suitably be pumped back into the white water system by means of a pum 74.

Due to the fact that re atively high vacuums are created within the sectlons 23 to 28 inclusive, above the traveling cover 35 forcing the beltlike sections 66 against the upper-surfaces 60 of the troughs 49 and were not this pneumatic ressure balanced in some way, there would be considerable friction developed. According to my invention, however, this neumatic pressure is effectively balanced by raulically by supplyin water to the troughs 49. The desired hea of water thus supplied can be semi-automatically controlled by the height of water within the standpipes 52, which in no event can exceed the height of the overflow pipes 54. I

In practice, the neumatic ressure upon the top surfaces 0 the belt-1i e sections 66 due to the partial vacuum created beneath the traveling cover can be, and preferably is automatically balanced by the hydraulic pressure of g This is aparticularly important'feature'of since it eliminates-binding and there is a considerable pressure the water filling the trough 37 friction between the belt and supporting surfaces. A variable static head is maintained upon the water within said troughs 49 by the height of the water in the standpipes 52, so

that when the pneumatic, or atmospherlc pressure is greater than the static head, the

level of the water in said standpipes 52 rises automatically until the static, hydraulic pressure balances the atmospheric pressure. Similarly, if the pneumatic pressure for any reason drops below the hydraulic pressure, the water lifts the belt 66 slightly from the tops of the troughs 49 and leaks over into the suctionbox compartment, thereby reducing the static head. i

In efiect, therefore, the rubber belts 66 act as regulating valves when provided with a suflicient volume and head of water to automatically balance the pneumatic and hydraulic pressures acting against said belts.

In effect then, the belt-like sections 66 travel upon a film of water that serves both to balance the pneumatic pressure and as a lubricant to prevent wear upon the under surface of said belt. The various joints formed between the belt sections 66 and the contacting surfaces are sealed at the ends of the stationary suction member 22 by the water overflowing from the passages '63 through the openings 64. The oints formed between the inner surfaces 84 of the side rails 85 and the outer ends of the outside belts 66 are sealed' against loss of vacuum by the water overflowing from the open channels 86 abutted by the deckle straps 19. The fact that the belt sections 66 are practically running in water continuously is especially conducive 77 so to have the vacuum in the first com artment,

to their lon life since these conditions are I very favora le to rubber, from which the belts are most suitably made. 7

It will be appreciated that the continuous application. 0 suction to the web on. the forming wire makes possible a much more rapid draining of the water from the stock and web than in the case of the usual type of Fourdrinier machine, where the ma'or portion of the draining is efi'ected by gravlty alone. Consequently, the length of the forming portion of the machine need be but a fraction of the length of the standard Fourdrinier machine operatin under similar circumstances as to speed 0 travel and type of paper being made. This in itself means a great economy both in space and in cost of equipment, including the forming wire.

The provision for graduating the amount of vacuum at different points of the suction area, as by means of the individual compartments 23 to 28 inclusive and the separate suction connections thereto,'is of great value in increasing the operating efiicien'cy of the machine. For instance, as the open wire enters the suction area, if the vacuum were very high it might have a tendency to draw a great many of the smaller fibers through the wire and for this reason it is advantageous 23, much lower than in the succee ing com artments, or after the wire has become part- 7 closed from the layer of fibers deposited thereon. The amount of vacuum in these various compartments 23 to 28 inclusive can be varied at will by opening or closing the valve'in the connecting air lines leadlng to the accumulator 46 and vacuum pump. 48.- It will however be understood that instead of separate suction compartments as shown, a single suction compartment for the entire suction area might be employed.

When it becomes necessar to chan e the wire to put on a new wire, t e apron oard 14 and attached side boards 15 are suitably raised about the pivot point 16 and the deckle .is then suspended in pulleys 21 are similarly elevated bythe usualeckle elevating mechanism. ,The wire rolls 12 are likewise. raised and suitably suspended beneath the side beams 2 and 3. The table structure 1 is then rolled out laterally on the front side of the machine over the transfer tracks 4 and 5 and suitably. positioned outside track members (not shown). A new wire, indicated in dotted lines in Fi ure 1, looped posit on by means of a plurality of spindles 75. The, couch roll 8, which may or may not be a suction couch, may suitab y be of the cantilever t pe to permit the insertion of the loop of the wire 6 over said roll from one end thereof. With the wire so an ended, the table structure 1 is again rolle into place the spindles 75 removed and the wire rolls 12 and deckle pulleys and apron again placed in their normal position.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide ran e without departin from the principles of fins invention, an I, therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a Fourdrinier paper machine, including a breast roll, couch roll and traveling forming wire, a suction device extending substantially the full distance between the breast roll and couch roll for cooperation with said wire to apply suction therethrough to form a continuous sheet thereon.

2. In a paper machine, including a breast roll, couch roll and forming wire, a suction device comprising a stationary suction member having a traveling perforate cover supporting and cooperating with the wire durmg the greater ortion of its eflective len h.

3. In a Four rinier paper machine, inc uding a breast roll, couch roll and forming wire, a suction device cooperatively associated with the forming wire during travel thereof and taking the place of the usual table rolls and stationary s'uction boxes.

4. In a paper machine of the Fourdrinier t pe including a forming wire, a suction evlce, a traveling perforate cover therefor cooperatively associated with said wire'and suction is applied to said wire.

a paper machine of the Fourdrinier type mclu mg a forming wire, a stationary suctlon member positioned beneath the up r run of the wire and substantially coextensive therewith, a hydraulically balanced perfoaper machine of the Fourdrinierrate cover for said member through which suction is applied to said wire and means for moving sal cover in sup orting relation to said wire at the same spee as sald wire.

7. In a paper machine of the Fourdrinier type mclu ing a stock head box, apron, slice and forming wire, the slice being positioned a substantial distance down the wire, a stationary suction device positioned beneath the upper run of the wire and a perforate cover for said device cooperatively associated with said wire and traveling therewith, whereby suction is applied to said wire before the stock has passed under the slice.

8. In a paper machine of the Fourdrinier type including a stock head box, apron, slice and forming wire, the slice being sitioned a substantial distance down the wire, a ata- Y up ' the forming portion comprising type inclu tionary suction device positioned beneath the r run of the wire and a perforate hydraulicall balanced cover for said device cooperative y associated with said wire and traveling therewith, whereby suction is applied to said wire before the stock has passed under the slice.

9. In a aper machine of the Fourdr'inier inclu ing a forming wire and means for e 'vering stock thereunto, a stationary suction device substantially coextensive with the forming part of the wire and a traveling perforated cover therefor cooperatively associated with said wire, whereby suction ma be continuously applied to said wire throu said traveling cover from the int of delivcry of the stock thereonto until the web has been formed.

10. In a paper machine of the Fourdrinier type includlng a forming wire, means replacing the usual tube rolls and fiat suction boxes comprising a stationary suction member and a traveling perforate cover'therefor cooperatively associated with the forming wire for applying a continuous suction thereto throughout substantially the entire length of thereof. i

11. In a aper machine of the Fourdrinier type includmg a forming wire, means replacing the usual tube rolls and flat suction boxes a stationary suction memberf and a hydraulically balanced traveling perforate cover therefor coo eratively associated with the forming wire or applyin a continuous suction thereto throughout substantially the entire length of the forming portion thereof.

12. In a paper machine of the Fourdrinier type includlng a forming wire, means replacingthe usual tube rolls and flat suction boxes comprising a stationary suction member, a travehng perforate cover therefor cooperatively associated with the forming wire for applying a continuous suction thereto throughout substantially the entire length ofthe forming portion thereof and means for delivering stock to said wire at a point where the wire is subjected to suction.

13. In a aper machine of the Fourdrinier mg a head box, breast roll, couch roll and forming wire, a suction device for the continuous application of suction to the forming wire and an a ron extending from said head box over the "reast roll to deliver stock onto the wire at a point subject to the suction created by said device.-

14. In a aper machine of the Four-drinier type inclu ing a head box, breast roll, couch roll "and forming wire, a suction device for the continuous application of suction to the.

forming wire, an apron extending from said head box over the breast roll to deliver stock onto the wire and a slice beyond the end of the apronfor forming a 0nd ofstock subject to the suction create by said device.

15. The combination with a continuously aper machine,

traveling forming wire of a of stock over of means for forming a pon the receiving end of said wire and means for continuously applying by said pond 0 stock.

17. The combinatlon with the forming. wire of a paper machine of the Fourdrmier forming on said-wire a type, of means for pond of stock of substantial depth extending over a substantial portion of the length of said wire and means for applying a continuend of said ous suction through the portion of the wire so covered and until sheet is formed.

18. The combination with the forming wire of a paper machine of the Fourdrinier type, of means for forming on said wire a pond of stock of substantlal depth extending over a substantial portion of the length of said wire and means positioned beneath the upper run of the wire and coextensive with the major portion of the length thereof for applying a continuous suction through the portion of the wire so covered.

19. The combination with the forming wire of a paper machine of the Fourdrinier t e, of a stationary suction member positloned beneath the upper run of the wire and coextensive with a ma or portion thereof and a perforate cover for said member for supporting said wire without relative movement between the contacting surfaces.

20. The combination with the forming wire of a paper machine of the Fourdrinier type, of a stationary suction member positioned beneath the upper run of the wire and coextensive with a major portion thereof, a perforate cover for said member for supporting said wire without relative movement between the contactin surfaces, means for forming a pond of owing stock under appreciable head over a portion of the wire supported by said cover and means for creat ng a partial v-acuumvwithin sald suction memher: for the application of suction through said cover. a x

21. A paper machine of the removable- Fourdrinier type comprlsing a formin'gpart including a wire and asuction device cooperatively associated with the upper run thereof for a eater portion of its length for continuous y applying suction through the 'travelin wire and means for laterally removing sai tablestructure.

22. In a paper machine of the removable Fourdrinier type, a forming part comprising a breast roll, a couch roll, a suction device between said rolls and having a traveling perforate cover and a wire trained around said breast and couch rolls and supported on said cover and means for moving said suction device out from between said breast roll and couch roll. 1

23. In a paper machine, a formin part including a breast roll, couch roll an a forming wire passing therearound, a suction device having a traveling perforate cover through which suction is applied to the wire throughout a major portion of the upper run thereof and means for driving said cover from the couch roll at the same rateof speed as said wire. a

24. In a paper machine, a forming part including a breast roll, couch 'roll, a forming wire passing therearound, a suction device substantially coextensive with the upper run of said wire, a cover for said device having openings therethrough for the application of suction to said upper run of wire, means for drivin said cover, and means for sealing the joints etween said cover and said device to prevent loss of suction.

25. In a paper machine, a forming fpart including a breast roll, couch roll, a orming wire passing therearound, a suction device substantially coextensive with the upper run of said wire, a cover for said device having openings therethrough for the application of suction to said upper run of wire, means for driving said cover and means including liquid seals and dec e straps for sealing the joints between said cover and said device to prevent loss of suction.

26. In a paper machine, a forming part including a breast roll, couch roll, a forming wire passing therearound, a suction device substantially coextensive with the upper run of said wire, a cover for said device having openings there'through for the application of suction to said upper run of wire, means for driving said cover, means for hydraulically bal-ancmg the pneumatic pressure against said cover, and means for sealing the joints between said cover and said device to prevent loss of suction.

27. The -method offorming a sheet of paper or the like, which comprises subjecting a pond of stock supported upon a traveling oraminous surface to a continuous suction throu h said surface, allowing the stock to flow om said pond under regulated head and continuing the application of suction throu h said surface until the web is formed.

28. he method of formin a continuous web of paperor the like, w depositing fibers from a flowing dilute water suspension of fibers under the action of relativ'ely high suction and continuing the application of suction without interruption until the web is formed.

29. The method of formingla-continuous web of paper or the like, w ch comprises initially depositing fibers under the action of suction from a pond of stock in a state of comparative quiescence onto a traveling foraminous surface, allowing the stock while still under the action of suction to flow with said foraminous surface at substantially the same speed as the traveling surface and continuously applying suction through the traveling foraminous surface until the web is formed.

30. The method of forming a continuous web of paper or the like, which comprises depositing fibers from a dilute water suspension of fibers in the form of a flowing stream by the application of suction thereto and continuously applying suction to said fiber suspension from the time of first fiber deposition until the web is formed.

31. The method of forming a continuous web of paper or the like, which comprises depositing fibers from a flowing dilute water suspension of fibers under the action of suc- 33. n a F ourdrinier paper machine, in-

cluding a breast roll, couch roll and endless forming wire continuously travelingaround said breast and couch rolls, a suction device extending from said breast roll a substantial distance toward said couch roll, a driven perforate cover cooperate with said suction device and forming wire to support the latter and permit the continuous application of suction through said wire to the stock flowing thereon and means includin an imperforate apron extending over sai breast roll to deliver stock onto said forming wire at a point where said wire is subjected to the action of said suction device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Beloit, Rock County,

Wisconsin. EARL E. BERRY.

ch comprises 

